Romania risks ban from Eurovision

Romania may be prohibited from taking part in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, due to a large debt owed by public broadcaster TVR to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

TVR owes ten million euros (approx. US$11.3 million) in debt to the EBU. According to a statement by TVR, EBU representatives told the Romanian broadcaster that Romania may not be allowed to participate in Eurovision 2016 due to debts accrued by TVR over the last eight years.

“[...] because of debts to the EBU accumulated by TVR in the past eight years, this body will move to the next sanction level. Thus, Romania risks not being accepted on the Eurovision stage and not receiving the satellite signal for the transmission of the event,” reads the statement by TVR.

The release states that EBU officials are awaiting a response from Romanian state bodies, including Parliament and the Finance Ministry. TVR has stated its determination to both participate in Eurovision and to be able to broadcast the live event. The public broadcaster has also appealed to the state institutions contacted by the EBU to support the payments necessary to take part in the contest.

The 2016 Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Stockholm on 10, 12 (semi-finals) and 14 (final) May. Ovidiu Anton is due to represent Romania with the song Moment of Silence.

Source: Romania Insider